Sixth Form Handbook YEAR 13 2012 - Broughton Hall High School

Sixth Form HandbookYEAR 13 2012Supporting and Challenging towards Success

CONTACT DETAILSBroughton Hall High SchoolYew Tree LaneWest DerbyLiverpool L12 9HJSixth Form Office 0151 235 1552Director of Learning Year 12/13E‐Mail lodged@broughtonhall.comAssistant Director of Learning Year 12/13E‐Mail lawellf@broughtonhall.comYear 13 Progress ManagerE‐Mail parkk@broughtonhall.comStudent Support ManagerE‐Mail barnesk@broughtonhall.comMrs D LodgeMr F LawellMiss K ParkMrs K BarnesSupporting and Challenging towards Success

INTRODUCTIONI would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to Broughton Hall Sixth Form.This is a new start for all as we look to make full use of our new facilities over the comingmonths. It is most important that all play a full part with total commitment to ensure youachieve success. This means full attendance and punctuality, an honest approach to allaspects of your studies and a determination to fully participate in the life of our schoolcommunity.The demands on students leaving school have never been higher and so we are passionateabout ensuring that you reach the very highest standards to help shape your future.Enjoy this academic year and seize the opportunities placed before you.G MurphyHead TeacherOn behalf of all the Sixth Form team, I would like to welcome you to Broughton Hall SixthForm. It will be a privilege to be able to work with you over the coming year. We will guide youas an independent learner so that you will be able to realise your potential academically,socially and morally. It is through this clear guidance, support and challenge that you willdevelop and realise your potential. I wish you every success.Mrs D LodgeDirector of Learning Year 12/13Supporting and Challenging towards Success

THE SCHOOL DAYSCHOOL STARTS8.40 amREGISTRATION 8.45 am 8.55 amLESSON 1 8.55 am 9.50 amLESSON 2 9.55 am 10.50 amBREAK 10.50 am 11.10 amLESSON 3 11.10 am 12.05 pmLUNCH 12.10 pm 1.00 pmLESSON 4 1.05 pm 2.00 pmLESSON 5 2.05 pm 3.00 pmWhen you accept a place in Broughton Hall Sixth Form, you automatically agree to acceptthe routines and obligations that go with it, as detailed in this handbook.SIXTH FORM EXPECTATIONS All students are expected to uphold and contribute to the Catholic life of the school. It is important that sixth form students are good role models therefore, each student willbe expected to be conscious of her/his responsibilities to the whole school community,paying special attention to the impact of sixth form students on younger pupils. Every student will be expected to give full commitment to their studies and attend alllessons. All students are expected to use their non‐contact time in school for effective independentstudy in the silent study area. All students must attend individual Support and Challenge Mentoring appointments withtheir Progress Tutor. Sixth form students are only permitted to leave the school premises at lunchtimes. All students are expected to adhere to the expectations as outlined in the learner’scontract for examination success.Supporting and Challenging towards Success

SIXTH FORM UNIFORMAt Broughton Hall, you are part of a school community where you are expected to be a rolemodel for younger pupils.From the start of the new academic year in September 2012, all students must arrive at schoolwearing the following uniform which is available at Laser School wear:• A plain white blouse (from £10.99 for a pack of 2) – no polo or t shirts• Plain black knee length skirt with inverted pleat, (from £14.99) OR• Box Pleat knee length skirt (from £21.99)• Plain black long sleeved jumper (from £13.75) OR• Plain black long sleeved cardigan (from £14.25)• Plain black shoes – no trainers or boots• Coats or jackets should be plain black – no leather jackets / coatsStudents are not permitted to wear hoodies, hats or outdoor jackets / coats whilst in theSixth Form building. These items must be removed and kept in their bags whilst on schoolgrounds.If all students adhere to this uniform policy, teaching staff and Progress Tutors will be able tospend their time developing a positive working relationship with you and helping you toachieve your full potential.If you do not observe the uniform policy above, you will be asked to go home and change andparents will be informed if these guidelines are not adhered to.ALL SIXTH FROM STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR AN ID BADGE WHICH WILL BEPROVIDED AT THE START OF TERM. IF YOU DO NOT WEAR THE BADGE YOU WILL BE INBREACH OF HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES AND WILL BE REQUESTED TO LEAVE THESCHOOL SITE.ATTENDANCE POLICYSixth formers are required to attend all their lessons if they are to achieve their full potentialat A Level. A minimum of 90% attendance at lessons is required by all students to guaranteeentry to external examinations. If students have an attendance below 90% and no adequatereason has been provided, it may result in students not being entered for exams or beingasked to leave Sixth Form. In the world of work, no‐one wants to employ a young person whois often late or who is absent without a very good reason!Supporting and Challenging towards Success

The Student Support Manager, Progress Managers and Progress Tutors will monitorattendance. The following sanctions will apply throughout the year:100% ‐ 95% Attendance No sanction required94% ‐ 90% Attendance Progress Tutors to discuss attendance in the S&C mentoringsession89% ‐ 85% Attendance Progress Manager to meet with student and contact home,requesting explanation for absences. If attendance does notimprove students will not be entered for examinations or maybe asked to pay for exam entries themselves84% ‐ 80% Attendance Progress Manager to meet with student and parents.Director of Sixth Form to be informed.Below 79% Attendance Director of Years 11, 12 & 13 to meet with student andparents. Student is at risk of being asked to leave Sixth FormAttendance at every morning registration is compulsory for all year 13 students. All studentsshould be in their form bases by 8.45 am for registration. Arrival after this time will be markedas a late. Please refer to our punctuality policy for further information regarding lateness. Students must remain on school premises throughout the school day but may go off siteat lunch time only. All students must be back on site by 1.00pm. All students must sign out and back in again at lunch time and at the end of the schoolday. The signing in/out sheets will be based at reception. This is a Health and Safetydirective which all students must adhere to. If a student has non‐contact time during the school day, they must register in the silentstudy area and do private study. The only exception to not attending morning registration is if a student needs to attenda lesson at 9.00 am at a collaborative school. If a student is not in registration or is not in class, they are defined as absent. A student should not miss school for any reason unless there are exceptionalcircumstances. All appointments (e.g. Dentist) are to be made outside of school time. No holidays can be taken in school time.Supporting and Challenging towards Success

KNOWN ABSENCESThe only people who can report an absence are the legal parent, guardian or carer as listed inour records. If students are unable to attend school the parent/guardian/carer MUST contactthe Student Support Manager, Mrs Barnes in the Sixth Form Office BEFORE 9.00 am on thefirst day of absence. This can be done in two ways:1. By telephone: Tel. No. 235 1552. Please leave a voicemail if no‐one is available to takethe message.2. By email to the Student Support Officer. This must be sent from theparent/guardian/carer’s account to barnesk@broughtonhall.como You will need to give a reason for your absence.o Indicate how long you think you will be absent.o Indicate which staff should be informed.o Inform us if work is required whilst absent.On return students will need to provide a letter stating the reasons for absence.It is the student’s responsibility to ensure all work is copied up and homework is completedwithin a week of their return to school.Students are registered daily. If students are absent and no reason for absence has beenprovided, parents will be notified by telephone or text message.An emerging pattern of non‐attendance without explanation will be deemed unacceptable.PUNCTUALITY POLICY‘Lateness’ is defined as arrival to registration or a lesson five minutes after the scheduled starttime. Individual circumstances will, at times, be taken into consideration. If a student arrivesafter registration, they must sign in, upon arrival, at reception. We might all be late from timeto time, it is the pattern of lateness that is of concern. The application of the policy is at thediscretion of the Progress Manager and Director of Years 12 & 13.FIRST LATE Student warned by teacher. Teacher notes that a warning is given (places anagreed symbol in their form/class register).SECOND LATE Student warned by teacher and student reminded of next stage. Teacher placesagreed symbol in their class register.THIRD LATE WITHIN A HALF TERM Teacher reports this to Head of Department and StudentSupport Officer. Student will be spoken to by Progress Manager and Head of Department.Progress Manager logs that a warning has been given and an agreed letter is sent home.Supporting and Challenging towards Success

SUBSEQUENT PATTERN OF LATENESS Parents interviewed with student by Progress Manager.Letter sent home as a record of the meeting, outlining future expectations and action that willbe taken if these expectations are not met.SUBSEQUENT PATTERN OF LATENESS Parents and students interviewed with Director ofYears 12 & 13. Student faces the prospect of being asked to leave the sixth form.ASSEMBLYIt is important that all students attend assembly. It is an opportunity for the sixth formcommunity to come together to share and celebrate success. Assembly also provides theopportunity to disseminate information regarding higher education, enrichment and careeropportunities.SUPPORT AND CHALLENGE MENTORINGIn order to ensure students achieve their full potential, we have a system of Support andChallenge (S & C) Mentoring. This means that on five occasions during the year, subject staffwill complete a monitoring report. The process will involve the student, subject teacher andProgress Tutor in; A discussion about the student’s Support and Challenge monitoring report identifyingtheir strengths and weaknesses. Checking progress through regular meetings where students are given a projectedoverall grade and a coursework grade for each individual subject. Addressing concerns staff have regarding homework, coursework, attendance orattitude during lessons. Setting agreed targets with students to ensure they achieve their true potential. Providing encouragement and support. Monitoring progress and setting new targets to ensure that the student is working tothe best of their ability. Devising strategies to support the student’s progress. Ensuring student’s engage in additional support both during school time and out ofschool hours.The Support and Challenge for this academic year will take place once every half term.Parents/Guardians will receive a copy of a Support and Challenge report at the LearningReview Day. The March report will be sent to parents prior to the Year 12 & 13 Parents’Evening. Student progress can be discussed with staff Progress Tutors on these dates.Supporting and Challenging towards Success

Naturally, the most important determinant of success will be the commitment of the studentto their studies. We will be monitoring student’s progress closely and putting in place supportthrough additional sessions both during and after school, to help students achieve to the bestof their ability.If a student has a projected grade one grade or more below their target grade in a subjectarea, it is compulsory for students to attend additional sessions. During these sessionsstudents will be able to do supervised coursework, learn things that they have forgotten orfailed to understand properly in the first instance. There will also be additional revisionsessions closer to times of external exams. All of this support will help students achieve orexceed their target grade.ATTENDANCE AT ADDITIONAL STUDY SESSIONSAll students are expected to attend additional study sessions, during and out of school hours,if requested to do so by a member of staff. If a student has fallen behind with their class workthey must stay an hour after school until the work is completed to a satisfactory standard. If astudent falls below their target grade they will be expected, twice a week, to stay after schoolfor an hour until the work is completed to a satisfactory standard.SILENT STUDY AREAIn July 2012, we took ownership of the new study facility. This state of the art Silent StudyArea, is an excellent opportunity for all students to complete work for their studies in a quietand studious environment. All students are expected to work in the study area during noncontact time. In order to maintain this fantastic working environment, food and drink are notallowed in the study area.SIXTH FORM CAFEAt Broughton Hall we are very proud and privileged to have the exclusive use of the sixth formcafé. Sixth form students have their own caterers and they are based in the café. No studentsfrom any other year group are permitted in the sixth form centre. Students are allowed to usethe café out of lesson time but during non contact time, they are required to use the silentstudy facility. The café serves food and drink throughout the day from 8.00am through to3.00 pm. Students are allowed to bring packed lunches into the café area but hot food canonly be purchased from the sixth form caterers. Hot food purchased from other cateringproviders outside of the sixth form café is not permitted on school premises.Supporting and Challenging towards Success

COURSE CHANGE PROCEDUREAll Year 13 must study 3 Level 3/A2 Courses.Students are not permitted to change courses during the school year. Therefore, it is vital thatall students make informed choices when they register for courses in September.In exceptional circumstances only, students may change a course but this must be donewithin 3 weeks of the start of the academic year.STUDENT SUPPORT – ADVICE & GUIDANCEDuring your time in sixth form there are a number of staff who can support you throughoutYears 12 and 13. Your Progress Tutor will see you every morning and some students are alsotaught by their tutors. Your tutor is someone you will have a positive relationship with andmany issues can be discussed and resolved through communicating with your Progress Tutor.If you have any further issues or problems, you can discuss these with Mrs Barnes who is thestudents Support Manager. Mrs Barnes will be able to address many of the issues you mayexperience in sixth form. If, however, you need further support and guidance, you will bereferred to your Progress Manager. Mrs Lodge is the Director for Sixth Form and is alsoavailable to offer advice and support. You should never feel alone in sixth form, there is alwayssomebody that you can talk to.TUTOR GROUPSWhen you have completed the registration process in September 2012, you will be placed intutor groups. The Progress Tutor is at the centre of each student’s education at Sixth form.They will meet with you daily, and will help you make progress by: Participating with their Tutor group in a daily act of Collective Worship Ensuring good communication with home. Ensuring good punctuality and attendance. Liaising closely with the Student Support Officer, Progress Manager and Director of SixthForm. Encouraging academic and social progress. Monitoring and reviewing the Student Planner. Helping students set realistic and achievable targets. Monitoring achievement of targets. Monitoring community hours Issuing information.MOBILE PHONESDue to safeguarding procedures, students are only allowed to use mobile phones in the sixthform area. Use of phones anywhere else in school or in lessons will result in confiscation.Supporting and Challenging towards Success

SCHOOL WEBSITEThe school website contains lots of information about Sixth Form and contains informationsuch as important calendar dates and copies of letters to parents.MOODLEThe Moodle website has been developed to provide a means of communicating with studentsand providing information regarding higher education, UCAS, career and enrichmentopportunities. In order to access the Sixth Form Moodle Page, students need to log in andclick on All Courses; Year Groups; Sixth Form. The enrolment key is ‘6form’.PART TIME EMPLOYMENTIn research conducted by the University of Warwick, it was found that students who do morethan 10 hours per week of part time work achieve significantly lower grades than their peerswho do less than 10 hours work per week. For this reason, we seriously recommend studentscommit to less than 10 hours part time work per week. Studying at Sixth Form is full time andneeds to be every students “full time job”. We appreciate that there are some benefits fromworking part time when in Sixth Form, developing further a student’s independence and selfdiscipline. However, it is also important that students understand the dangers of part timework and that when it exceeds 10 hours per week it verges on no longer being part time butmore on being full time. All students must remember that Sixth Form is their full time job.TERM DATES 2012 – 2013AUTUMN TERM 2012Monday 3rd September to Thursday 20th DecemberHalf Term – Monday 22nd to Friday 26th OctoberSPRING TERM 2013Monday, 7th January – Thursday, 28th March 2013Half Term – Monday 18th to Friday 22nd FebruarySUMMER TERM 2013Monday, 15th April to Wednesday 24th July 2013May Day – Monday 6th MayHalf Term – Monday 27th to Friday 31st MayPlease note: Students are not authorised to take holidays during term time. Success in SixthForm is dependent on a number of factors, the most important of which is full attendance.Please do not book holidays in term time as this will affect your progress and may result inyou being withdrawn from some examinations.Supporting and Challenging towards Success

If I started Sixth Form again I would …………..Below is some of the advice that past students would like to pass on to you to help ensure youdon’t make the mistakes that some of them did… make sure that I asked myteachers for help when I wasstruggling with a topic. I onlystarted doing this in Y13 and itmade a big difference.… get involved in enrichment a lotmore. I struggled to write myUCAS personal statement because Ididn’t get the experience I neededfor my university course.… start working from day one. Ididn’t appreciate how big the jumpwould be from GCSE to A Level.… make sure I met deadlines. Mycourses involved lots of courseworkand I started to get bogged downwith work because I didn’t keep upto date.… try to be more organised. A filefor each subject, make sure I wrotedown the dates of deadlines andexams and make sure I had all theequipment I needed for lessons.… not work as many hours in mypart-time job as I did. My schoolwork suffered and my gradesweren’t as high as they could havebeen.Supporting and Challenging towards Success